NEW DELHI: India’s para-archer Harvinder Singh has been honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award on the eve of Republic Day 2025. A gold medallist at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Harvinder’s remarkable achievements have earned him recognition as one of the country's finest athletes.
The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honours, are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. These awards celebrate excellence across various fields, including art, social work, public affairs, science, engineering, trade, medicine, and literature.
The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India, following the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan.
Harvinder created history in Paris by clinching India’s first-ever gold medal in para-archery, dominating the men’s individual recurve open event with a commanding 6-0 victory over Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek.
This triumph added to his legacy, following his bronze medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics—India’s first Paralympic archery medal.
Although Harvinder missed a second medal in Paris, falling short in the mixed team recurve bronze medal match alongside Pooja, his consistent performances have cemented his status as a trailblazer in Indian para-archery.
